Port Jervis Holiday Market Returns with Lights, Local Vendors, Hope

The New Century Christmas Market and Winter Wonderland came back to Port Jervis this month, transforming 517 Neversink Drive into a seasonal hub of lights, music and commerce for its fourth consecutive year. The market staged two well attended weekends on December 6 and December 13, culminating in a tree lighting ceremony that became a focal point for families and neighborhood groups.

Students from Northern Academy contributed prominently to the visual program, creating many of the light displays and erecting a large installation that spelled out Hope. Vendor booths lined the site offering crafts, food and locally made goods, and a steady schedule of musical performances kept the crowd moving between activities. Organizers framed the event around community giving and intentional support for local small businesses, making the market both a cultural celebration and an economic opportunity for microenterprises in the region.

Public safety personnel were present throughout the market to provide information on winter weather readiness and to monitor crowd safety. Their visible role addressed immediate risks such as cold exposure and slips on icy surfaces, and also underscored the need for event planning that accounts for vulnerable residents, including older adults and people with mobility challenges.

The market’s return matters to Orange County residents beyond holiday cheer. For small business owners and makers, the exposure and direct sales at a community event can be a crucial part of quarterly revenue. For families, the market offered low cost seasonal recreation that can strengthen social ties and reduce isolation during long winter months. From a public health perspective, such events provide opportunities to share information about flu and respiratory illness prevention, safe sheltering during storms, and mental health supports during a season that can exacerbate distress.

Local leaders and public health officials can build on this momentum by expanding transportation access to community events, increasing outreach to underserved neighborhoods, and funding small business supports that make participation affordable. As Port Jervis moves through winter, the market showed how shared traditions, practical preparedness and targeted policy can work together to keep communities safer and more resilient.